Press Release

Humanists Support March for Women's Lives

For Immediate Release - Contact: Roy Speckhardt at (202) 238-9088

(Washington, D.C., April 22, 2004) On Sunday, April 25, 2004, on the National Mall in Washington D.C., the American Humanist Association (AHA) is joining leading women's rights groups-the Feminist Majority Foundation, NARAL Pro-Choice America, the National Organization for Women, and Planned Parenthood Federation of America, along with many other like-minded for what is predicted to be the largest march on Washington in U.S. history. The 1992 March for Women's Lives brought over 700,000 people to the nation's capital and organizers hope that this number will be doubled in 2004.

The AHA, proud to be a cosponsor, has been actively organizing for this event in support of women's right to choose.

On Sunday, April 25th, the day of the March, the AHA will be holding a breakfast and pre-March rally at the State Plaza Hotel, Diplomat room, 2117 E Street, NW, 8:30-10:00 AM.

Speakers include Bill Baird whose U.S. Supreme Court case Baird v. Eisenstadt (1972) legalized birth control nationally for unmarried people. Baird v. Eisenstadt also helped lay the groundwork for Roe v. Wade, Baird v. Bellotti I & II (for minor's abortion rights) and Lawrence v. Texas in 2003. Baird's abortion rights activism, in which he was jailed eight times in five states during the 1960s for lecturing on abortion, was the topic of recent New York Times story. AHA president Mel Lipman will introduce other speakers including Humanist Society president and AHA board member Maddy Urken and staffer Robin Jacobs.

"The freedom to make decisions regarding one's body is one of the most fundamental human rights that exist. Thousands of children go unwanted, yet anti-choice activists would force a woman to have a child, whether she wants to or not, or is able to adequately care for a child or not-even if it would gravely imperil her health! Their blind zealotry knows no reason," adds executive director of the AHA, Tony Hileman.

Hileman concluded, "The best way to prevent abortions is not by forcing a woman to bear a child but through complete reproductive health information and services that include access to contraception. Opponents of choice suffer from a severe case of historical amnesia-they would have us go back to the dismal days of back-alley abortions and the subjugation of women."

The American Humanist Association is the oldest and largest Humanist organization in the nation. The AHA is dedicated to ensuring a voice for those with a positive nontheistic outlook, based on reason and experience, which embraces all of humanity .

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